Sustainability and the ORCV

Ocean Racing Club of Victoria is a dedicated team of sailors and administrators who bring the mission of Sustainability to life. Sustainability is in the ORCV Constitution, our Vision, our Mission, and our Values both on and off the water.

To all who love the environment, particularly our oceans: Save the sea, protect your passion, and make an impact is the message from all of us at the Ocean Racing Club of Victoria.

We are an innovative sailing organisation that cares about the health of our planet and have always been interested in ways that can have an impact that scales, something that can change behavior and the value we put on our natural environment. We ask;

• What if we could get everyone to pledge not to use plastics on their boats?
• What if we could get every yacht club to recycle correctly?
• What if we could support those organisations undertaking prevention, advocacy, recycling, and education?

And what if we could spread our love for the ocean with the people closest to us who do not sail? Behind every ORCV race, a dedicated team is paying attention to essential details of keeping plastics out of the oceans.

Change only happens when organisations like ORCV get together and take action for an initiative we care about.

Looking back at the past year, it's been incredible to showcase sustainable practices through different eyes and what a read it is ....  click here 

Five Starting Tips That Contribute to Running a More Sustainable Boat

To all who love the environment and our oceans: "Save the ocean, protect your passion, and make an impact" is the message from all of us at the ORCV.

Behind every ORCV race is a dedicated clean oceans team paying attention to essential details of keeping plastics out of the oceans. During the recent Apollo Bay Race, the ORCV team organised a fundraising activity to raise awareness of how, as a community, we all can make changes to keep plastics out of the ocean. The Club has long been interested in ocean conservation, so it was a natural fit.

Change only happens when people like us get together and act for an initiative we care about. Here are five starting tips that can contribute to running a more sustainable boat:

1. Use reusable water bottles over plastic bottles
2. Take food in reusable containers or use reusable silicone Ziplock bags (if food needs heating or re-heating)
3. Use the boat's cutlery/plates over disposable ones
4. Consider what food you take on board
5. Recycle post-race

Recognising ORCV's 'Keep plastics out of the ocean' efforts in the last Melbourne to Apollo Bay Ocean Race, the global organisation Sailors for Sea awarded a Gold Certification for the sustainability of an event to the ORCV - the only Australian entity to receive a Gold Certificate in 2019.

Sailors for Sea organisation, Co-founded by David Rockefeller Jr. and Dr. David Treadway in 2004, is headquartered in Newport, Rhode Island, and works to engage the boating community in the worldwide protection of the oceans. Through its Clean Regattas, Ocean Watch programs, and Green Boating Guide, the organisation successfully motivates boaters to become environmental stewards.

ORCV - BIA Show Specials*

Port Phillip Heads Rip Tour
Safety & Sea Survival Course
Life Rafts

Port Phillip Heads Rip Tour - BIA Special* $110 per person

The ORCV’s Rip Tour is conducted on a luxury motor vessel "Moonraker" (capacity 70 persons) with expert navigators sharing navigating Port Phillip Heads. Tours depart from Sorrento Pier or Queenscliff Harbour.

The tour is for anyone with an interest in safely transiting Port Phillip Heads out to the open seas.  It is informative, truly educational and has proven to be a great day out.  

Bookings are essential. https://www.orcv.org.au/training/rip-tour-of-port-phillip-heads 

BOAT SHOW SPECIAL $110.00 per person (normally $125)  Enter promotional code BIA2020 at the checkout. 

Safety and Sea Survival Course - BIA Special*

Learn and experience the techniques for staying safe whilst being on the water.   Skippers and crew will develop practical strategies for avoiding or coping with emergencies and familiarisation with safety equipment, it’s purpose, deployment and use.  The course incorporates both theory and practical sessions.  More information on the course click herehttps://www.orcv.org.au/training/safety-sea-survival-course-sssc

Book for 19 & 20th September course here 

Book for the 14 & 15 November course here

During the BIA Show, Pay $350 for the full 2 day course, by entering "BIA2020" to receive $70 off the course.   (normally $420 per Adult person) 

Life Raft

You can buy new or join the swap n go program here 

Brand new West Life Raft

Swap-N-Go® exchange program (Annual Costs)

Please note The standard pack we use in our Rafts are AMSA Coastal (Commercial Pack which is greater than 24 hours.)

Promos - Give aways

FREE 2 x SSSC Courses

FREE 2 x Rip Tour Passes

BONUS OFFER 6 x Rip Tour Double Passes for Price of One (2 for 1 offer )

** These special price is only valid until July 26th 2020.

ORCV Commodore Update - July 2020

To all our members, volunteers and competitors,

Hello once again. I was hoping to be able to announce the commencement of racing and return to face to face training. Alas that is not to be for some time yet.

It has taken us all a little while to digest the news from the State Government that we are going into lockdown for a second time. As much as we all don’t want that to happen, we respect the Government’s decision and will do our best to adhere to it for the benefit of the community.

Rather than focusing on we cannot do, we thought we would take the chance to let you know what we have been doing, can do and plan to do over the next couple of months.

• Our upcoming online Navigation training courses led by Rod Smallman and Will Oxley have been hugely popular with two repeats of the course sold out. We are working hard to get them ready and will ensure they are valuable and enjoyable for participants.
• We revamped the membership year and aligned it with the sailing season. This included three months of membership at no additional cost to members as some offset of the Covid19 restrictions to club activities.
• We have brought forward the AGM, it will be on the evening of the 14th September, prior to the new membership year. We will be conducting it on line, with an in person option if we can. We have decided to postpone the presentation component of the AGM until later in the year when we can meet in person to celebrate achievements together.
• We have welcomed to the ORCV General Committee two new faces, Jeremy Walton and Aidan Geyson who will bring a much needed fresh perspective to the club.We have prepared a new Constitution and a set of Bylaws for members consideration at the next AGM. This brings the rules up to date and provides additional governance and flexibility improvements.
• We have held the first Organising Committee meeting for a 2022 Pacific Race. We are hopeful to firm up on a date and a destination over the next month or so once we have the second meeting.
• We published a Notice of Race for the 1st welcome back to sailing inter club race. We will still be conducting this race together with our partner clubs, we just aren’t sure when that will be.
• We will firm up on what Ocean racing we can do in the lead up to Christmas. We will run the Coastal sprints when we can and still plan to run a Cup weekend race and the races over the Christmas New Year break. If we can race, we will. Destination and format may change, we will need to remain flexible and open to new ideas. Major races will be highly dependent on Government announcements and border openings, we may need to be creative and design a new race.
• We will be launching an offshore development program for people new to Cat 3 racing and those who may wish to step up to Cat2+ racing in the near future. We were about to launch this, but will hold off for now.

Australian Sailing is being supportive, they recently announced adding an extra 18 months to recently expired SSSC certificates. The Melbourne yacht clubs are collaborating behind the scenes which is great, probably more so than usual. The discussion and sharing of information between clubs we believe will carry into the future which is great for the sport.

Meanwhile we work hard to stay connected and look after our club and our members. I must acknowledge our hard working staff, Vanessa and Jen, who continue to work hard for the club despite challenging conditions and working from home.

Thanks also to go to our wonderful volunteers who keep the club moving forward, especially people in our three key teams. Tim Boucaut and Delma Dunoon in the marketing and communications team are working hard to help us stay connected and bring you the latest information. Simon Dryden is leading the training team, who are working flat out preparing the new courses in an online format which is a first for the club as well as revamping the SSSC course. Justin Brenan and his sailing team are trying to plan the unplannable, putting together the race program and preparing the offshore development program.

Finally, thanks to the hard working General Committee. John Gordon, our Secretary, has been working on membership renewal and the constitution changes. Simon Dryden, our Treasurer, has been dealing with finances, working through grants, job keeper and rental relief while managing to balance the books. Neville Rose has been improving our IT systems, a key foundation of the club. Meanwhile the other General Committee members have been doing their bit, assisting those already mentioned or improving the club in other ways.

So the ORCV really is a wonderful community. We will be racing soon once restrictions ease, when we do its going to be great !!

Martin Vaughan
ORCV Commodore

Go Coastal Training Program for Skippers

The Go Coastal Training Program is designed to provide support for established bay racing skippers who wish to join the ORCV Coastal Sprints fleet but have not previously raced outside the Heads.

The program includes assistance with boat preparation, plus practical and theoretical training focussed on safe exit and re-entry through Port Phillip Heads. It also includes entry to the Coastal Sprint Race 2 on 21 November 2020. Skippers may choose to include their navigator in the Rip navigation training sessions also.

Program Content

Core modules of the program cover:-

• Assistance in assessing boat suitability and preparation for coastal racing (Cat 3).
• Navigation of the Port Phillip Heads (Rip) and ORCV Coastal Sprint course. This will include expected conditions, tidal flows, lights, sea conditions, exclusion zones and Cape Schanck and Western Port challenges.
• These key skills, will be learnt through theory and on water practice so that you can :-
• safely and confidently exit and enter Port PhilIip Bay.
• meet navigational requirements in the course areas used by ORCV in its Coastal Sprints.
• Knowledge of ORCV race and communication procedures
• Understanding and experience with using the race entry system and meeting compliance requirements minimising the initial “learning curve for skippers and crew.
• Participation in Coastal Sprint Race 2

• Additional Modules

Course Prerequisites

The program is open to skippers who intend to Race in an ORCV Coastal Sprints in the 2020-21 season plus, if nominated by the skipper, a second person from their crew, normally the navigator.

Course participants are expected to:-

• Be established bay racing sailors.
• Have basic chart reading and navigation skills and to be familiar with the use of their own boat software.
• Provide their own charts covering the entrance to Port Phillip and the coastal area between Westernport and Apollo Bay.

Module 1

Late July 2020 - Boat Review (Practical)

• General review of boat condition and suitability

• Attended by Skipper

Module 2

From Mid August 2020 (by arrangement) - Cat 3 Equipment Inspection (Practical)

• This is required by 13th September practical
• Cat 3 and regulations are found here

Module 3

Tuesday 1st September 2020 - Navigating Port Phillip Heads and Coastal Sprint Courses (Theory)

Content: 
Specifically designed for skippers and navigators participating in ORCV Coastal Sprints for the first time.

• Expected conditions and their impact – Rip, Cape Schanck, Westernport.
• Safe Navigation of the Rip - exit & entry, lights, tidal flow, sea conditions
• Exclusion zones
• Westernport Fairway buoy.

• Skipper to attend.*

Module 4

Saturday 12th September 2020 6 - 7 pm - Blairgowrie Briefing (Theory - in person)

Content:

• Chart refresher and briefing for Skipper and Navigator and follow up to 1st September theory.

Module 5

Sunday 13th September 2020 - Sail Out Port Phillip Heads (Practical)

Content:

• Depart BYS at 8 am, Start at 9.30am  
• Radio Procedure and Heads Exit Sail out and return on ebb tide via Portsea wave buoy and HMAS Canberra Site. Includes radio comms, start procedures use of virtual marks. 
• Skippers plus crew on their own boat.  Mentors available.

Module 6

5 - 10th November 2020 (as arranged) - Top Yacht and Race Compliance (Theory and Practical)

Content: 

• Guides and assistance to setting up your First Race Entry in Top Yacht with initial data load.
• Online support available from the ORCV office 

Module 7

21st November 2020 0730 - ORCV Coastal Sprint Race 2 (practical)

Content: 

• Participation into the ORCV Coastal Sprint Race 2.
   

Pricing

All pricing includes Entry into the ORCV Coastal Sprint Race on November 21st 2020 for the Skipper and boat.

• ORCV Member Skipper $283.00 (including entry to Coastal Sprint 2)
• NEW Member Special $456.00 (includes ORCV Membership valued at $280.00 and entry to Coastal Sprint 2)
• Non Member $333.00 (includes entry to Coastal Sprint 2)

*Skipper nominated second person to various modules

• ORCV Member $84.15
• Non Member $99.00

Bookings

Book in for this course here

Additional Training Considerations

is available through a number of ORCV’s standard programs including

• Fundamental Navigation (reserved sessions by demand on 4 & 6 August 2020) (please contact the ORCV office to book for this course)
• Safety Sea and Survival Courses, book here

Outport Membership

Outport membership is open to those whose primary residence is outside the 80km radius (straight line) from the GPO Melbourne.

This radius takes into consideration the following locations.

If you are unsure if are outside this boundary a closer examination can be made by doing the following

• Open google maps on maps.google.com
• Enter the GPO Melbourne as your starting point.
• Right click on the GPO Melbourne Pin location and select Measure Distance.
• Now click on this pointer and drag it to your address to reveal the km distance, as a straight line